In a surprising turn of events, Conor Benn has made a significant career move by departing from Matchroom and signing a lucrative $15 million one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, facilitated by Turki Alalshikh. This decision has sparked a divide in the boxing community, with supporters applauding Benn’s bold step and critics questioning his motives. Benn is set to face Regis Prograis at a 150-pound catchweight on the undercard of the highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov fight on April 11.
Josh Taylor, who has previously shared the ring with Prograis, recently shared his candid thoughts on the upcoming Benn-Prograis matchup. Speaking at The British Boxing Board of Control awards, Taylor offered a blunt assessment of Prograis’ current form and the fight’s dynamics.
Prograis, meanwhile, has expressed unwavering confidence in his ability to defeat Benn, despite the weight advantage Benn will have. In a recent interview, Prograis stated, “I know I can beat Conor Benn. That’s why the weight doesn’t concern me. We can fight at any weight, and I’m not worried about it. Don’t be surprised if I’m stronger. I’m at my natural weight, and I spar with bigger guys all the time. The punches don’t even hurt me. I signed to fight because I know I can win.”
Taylor, however, has a different perspective on Prograis’ chances. He believes that Prograis is past his prime and that Benn’s move to face him is primarily financially motivated. “I don’t want to sound disrespectful, but I say it how I think. Regis Prograis is long finished, in my opinion,” Taylor said. “We fought in 2019, and he’s not the fighter he once was. For Conor Benn to leave Matchroom and fight an over-the-hill Regis Prograis is a strange move, other than financial gain. If I were in that position, I’d do the same thing.”
Addressing the weight disparity between the two fighters, with Benn recently operating at middleweight and Prograis at super lightweight, Taylor acknowledged that Prograis could still pose some challenges. “He’s old and past his best, but he’s still a good fighter. It could be tricky for him. He will make it quite awkward for the first bit,” Taylor said. “But I can’t see anything other than a Benn win.”
The Benn-Prograis fight promises to be an intriguing contest, with both fighters bringing their unique strengths and weaknesses to the ring. As the boxing world eagerly awaits the outcome, one thing is certain: the sport’s landscape is continually evolving, with unexpected moves and bold predictions keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
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